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U.N. condemns shelling of Yemeni funeral procession

The U.N. human rights office said on Tuesday that it strongly condemned the killing of more than 20 people and the wounding of dozens of others during a funeral procession in southern Yemen.

According to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, the December 27 shelling at Al-Dhalai Governorate killed 21 civilians and wounded 30 others. The office urged authorities to hold the perpetrators responsible.

Yemen's President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi set up a committee to investigate the attack, a move welcomed by the OHCHR. Human rights officials with the U.N. urged authorities in Yemen to make sure the probe is thorough, prompt and impartial. OHCHR also recommended the probe make the findings public.

A day prior to the shelling, independent U.N. human rights experts voiced serious concern about recent lethal drone airstrikes that were allegedly conducted by U.S. forces.

According to Yemeni security officials, 16 civilians were killed and at least 10 injured during attacks on two separate wedding processions on December 12. The OHCHR said cited officials who said the victims were mistakenly identified as members of Al-Qaida.

Yemen is currently undergoing a democratic transition after a government of national unity came to power in an election in February 2012.